Month: August 2012

I have been sent a copy of Jojo Moyes recent novel ‘Me Before You’. This is not a children’s book by any stretch, not even a teen’s read in my opinion, but I thought I’d share my review with you anyway, just in case you fancy trying something different.

This is a love story, it’s true, but not your conventional kind. Lou is wonderfully vibrant, I could picture her instantly and wanted her to break free from the constraints of her routine life. Will on the other hand, despite his terrible situation, took a lot more time to warm to. He’s difficult, at times cruel and not so easy to like.

Somehow, Moyes draws the reader in to the confusion of these intertwined characters and makes their story believable. I admit that I wept, and not just once. The story is so much more complex than the front cover suggests. Honestly, if I had seen it on a bookshelf I would have passed it by (sorry), because it gives the appearance of a slushy romance novel, which is just not my thing. However, you really should not judge a book by its cover, because ‘Me Before You’ certainly isn’t an easy read. You find yourself questioning all the way through, ‘What would I do…?’

What I really love about this book is the family dynamics which encircle the whole; they build up a sense of reality which makes the plot-line so much more believable. And the fact that the ending may not be entirely what you wish for, but it does make complete sense within the context, staying true to the characterisation which Moyes so beautifully constructs.

 

You can check out more reviews for this and other books via www.lovereading.co.uk

As it’s the holidays, I have taken the opportunity to keep a closer eye on my children’s reading habits. It’s been a very interesting experience. A bit like some kind of weird Attenborough documentary, where the cheeky chimps are being tracked.

I haven’t taken notes or anything (even I am not that odd), but I have noticed several things which I hadn’t had such awareness of before.

For example, our eldest* went through a stage where all she read was Jacqueline Wilson. Give her a story with a broken family unit at its centre and she was happy. I hadn’t realised that her reading tastes have evolved and she is now reading a wider range of books than ever before. There’s nothing wrong with Jacqueline Wilson, I think she’s great and anything that gets your kids reading is fine with me, but I am still pleased to see that at last her horizons have broadened. As a result, her vocabulary has also improved. Hurrah!

Middle froglet has always been an avid reader and can often be located in a very small corner, hunched over a book. Enid Blyton is still high on the list, alongside virtually anything from fantasy to historical novels. But something has also changed for her. She is now avidly collecting ‘vintage’ Enid Blyton. No charity shop is left unturned in the search for ‘just one more’. I feel that I have created a bit of a monster. Has my slightly disconcerting ‘Alice’ habit transferred itself to one of my children? It would seem that perhaps it has.

And lastly, our youngest. He still absolutely loves stories, however now he can be found sitting on the sofa, reading away to himself, rather than just being read to. He has been reading books aloud all year (for school), but this is different. He has fallen into the world of being the private reader; curled up with a good book and immersing himself in the story. I’d forgotten how amazing that feeling is, when you witness a child discovering a sense of becoming the reader for the first time.

The journey from being the audience to becoming the reader is a complex one, which differs greatly from child to child. We have always read a great deal to our children and so they have been surrounded by high quality texts from birth. I am certain that their relationship with books has a lot to to do with the fact they are constantly encircled by them and so reading is a very natural part of everyday life. We always have reading before bed. Nowadays the girls read to themselves, whereas boy wonder is read to, but the premise is the same. You can’t finish the day off properly without the routine of reading, even if it’s just a few pages.

Linked into the routine of reading is play. Play has been encouraged through each stage of our children’s lives, whether it be dressing up as a cat at Bethnal Green Museum 

or pretending to slay a dragon through the power of a die,

or trying your best to beat Dad!

I honestly believe that playing games which stretch your imagination, coupled with being read to will result in a real love of books. Go on, have a go, you know you want to.

 

* Our eldest froglet does exist but would be mortified if I uploaded a photo of her!

With all of the holiday activities going on it’s been a super busy summer for Chicken and Frog, even though we are not open yet! As you may know, together with Claire Mackaness, we have been providing storytelling coupled with arts & crafts activities throughout the summer and it’s been a blast.

Today was our last joint event of the summer. We wanted to produce something of a legacy for our grand finale, so we put our heads together and came up with a cunning plan. Under the title of ‘Brentwood’s Children’, Claire had the lovely idea of creating something like this:

 

So, we read lots of stories, to get the children thinking about how different we all are, whilst embracing the impact that such variety has on the world we live in.

We wanted to celebrate diversity and inclusion in Brentwood, so we encouraged the children to make paper plates portraits of themselves, using skin-toned crayons and an array of crafty bits and pieces. I think that you will agree that they did a grand job:

The next stage will be for these glorious creations to be displayed for all to see in the shop window. What a wonderful way to celebrate how great our kids are.

This question was posed in The Atlantic Wire and then circulated via Twitter yesterday. I am sure it’s not the first time such a question has been asked and I would hazard a guess that it always sparks a healthy debate.

Scaring children is not necessarily something that I advocate, but there is something to be said for making children aware that the world is not all fluffy and sweet. It’s impossible to decide the effect a book will have on an individual. For example, I remember our middle froglet crying when she read The Ugly Duckling, because she was so upset that he had no friends. Does this mean that the story wasn’t suitable for 4 year old children? Of course not! And does it mean that she shouldn’t have read it? No! Life is tough;  we all encounter instances when we may feel like the outsider and we would be doing our children a great disservice to shield them from such life lessons.

 

Perhaps if there was no positive resolution at the end of the tale, then it would an be unnecessary lesson?  I think that creating a sense of fear in children’s fiction can be a good thing, especially if the lines of morality are clearly defined. Where it could ‘go wrong’ is if the villain doesn’t get some kind of deserved comeuppance at the end, whilst the hero suffer a terrible injustice. Although the cynic in me might say, well that’s life! (Only if I’ve had a really bad day).

Where do we draw the line on what would scare a child and what wouldn’t? There’s been so much written about the fairy tale. We know that the original versions of many were very gruesome indeed and have been doctored to suit more delicate palates over the years.

But who’s to say that the original texts are inferior to the ‘newer’ versions? Roald Dahl certainly saw the benefits of creating horrid caricatures in his stories. Did such characters result in nightmares? On the contrary, they caused delight in the reader, whilst teaching lessons of morality if you cared to look for them.

Of course, there’s the question of non-fiction or historical fiction too. For example, when is a child old enough to cope with a text such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas? There is no doubt that this book is frightening, but in a more real sense than say, for example, the Point Horror series. Is it ok to scare the reader? I would say, without any doubt, yes. If we don’t pass on such messages to the next generation then we have failed in some way. Again, as with fiction, the timing needs to be right for each individual, but I do believe that as adults, we should not shy away from presenting challenging texts to children.

So, in conclusion, should books scare children? Yes, I think that they should, as long as there is an adult close by to field tricky questions and place the fear into a manageable context for the reader.

We’re away at the moment, which is a rarity for us and the biggest decision I found myself making whilst preparing to leave had nothing to do with what clothes to take or how much currency needed exchanging, but what books to pack.
When I was a kid (just a couple of years ago), my dad used to take stacks of ‘holiday’ books, which he would then leave behind. This act always used to perplex me; surely if a book is a worthy read, you don’t want to leave it in some far flung hotel room? He said it was to combat the whole weight issue with bringing back suitcases now splitting from straw donkeys and the like, but I always felt that those poor books were being abandoned. I like to think that the books were passed on to another weary traveller who happened to find themselves in the same hotel that we had stayed in and not that they had been thrown down the rubbish chute by an exasperated cleaner who was muttering something roughly translated as ‘Those bloody English…’
My dad now has a Kindle which negates such cruel behaviour and also allows my mother to pack that extra pair of shoes. I still can’t get used to the e-book platform, so have not yet succumbed. I understand the pros and all that jazz, but I still love the physicality of a book. I will make my peace with the trees in my own good time.
I digress as usual. So, what did I take? Well we’re only away for four days, so I just brought one along; Barbara Kingsolver’s The Lacuna. It was a present and not something that would ever tempt me if I’m honest, so I have taken this opportunity to try it out. As I say, a very different read for me, but a change is good as a rest and so far, it’s getting a thumbs up. It was lovely to have the luxury of a kid-free flight thanks to dodgy seating arrangements, as it meant I managed to plough my way through half of this chunky bestseller in one sitting!
I will admit though that I have also started to read eldest’s latest, How to Keep a Boy as a Pet. Although only ten pages in, it’s proving to be a bit of a hit. Perhaps I just enjoy experiencing the teenage angst of someone else other than my daughter’s? Whatever the reasoning behind it, Diane Messidoro has captured the teen in me and I am determined to now finish both books before we leave Poland.
What would you choose as a perfect holiday read? Does the location of the trip dictate the book or do you grab something from your ‘to read’ pile?

Just a quick post today, but I had to share something that Mr Frog found this morning. You know how ‘they’ keep on going on about how difficult it is to get boys to read…well, this little gem would certainly help.

It’s written by Lisa Trumbauer and gruesomely* illustrated by Aaron Blecha. In layman’s terms, it’s simply awesome. I’ve checked out the website www.stonearchbooks.com and there’s a whole host of great looking titles, just waiting to be devoured by those reluctant boys (and girls). The company is based in the US, but I’m pretty sure that you would be able to locate their inspired creations if you looked for them.

 

*I mean this as a compliment; the graphics absolutely rock.

 

I had a very interesting discussion with my dentist’s wife (from herein she shall be referred to as Mrs F) the other day. She is a retired English teacher, who has a real passion for high quality education and reading. We were talking about the changes to the curriculum and how this may, or may not, effect future learning for pupils. The banter went on for a while and then she made a comment which took me by surprise. She said that ‘Literature shouldn’t be taught in schools.’ I took a rapid intake of breath, so she went on to clarify her position.

In a nutshell, Mrs F’s views is that we should expose children to all genres of literature, but we should not examine them at the end of it. I asked if she felt the same about other curriculum areas and she said that she did not. So, why then, such opposition to an examination in English Literature? Because, she said ‘Reading too much into a text ruins you as a reader.’ And, she went on, ‘who is an examiner to say if the child’s opinions are right or wrong?’

I am sure that Mrs F is not the first to raise such a point, but it got me thinking nonetheless. I have often said that although I enjoyed my degree and MA, in a way, they have ‘ruined’ me as reader. I am not very good at just reading for the sake of it. If a writer’s style irks me, I just refuse to carry on, even if the premise of the book is interesting. There are many books which Mr Frog has recommended to me, where I haven’t got through the first chapter because of grammatical errors or the over-use of a particular word or phrase. The worst sin though is the over-use of the exclamation mark!!!!  I think that my education has made me a book-snob. There, I’ve admitted it. My name is Natasha and I am a book-snob. I think I need help.

Should our experience of great literature look like this,

or this?

Thoughts on an e-postcard please.

I received my copy of Louise Welsh‘s The Girl on the Stairs two days ago and I have just finished reading it. Now, bearing in mind that it’s the summer holidays, so the kids are all home, I have had a stinking cold and that we were out and about for most of yesterday, that’s pretty good going. And the key reason for such a swift read, amongst the sneezing, cooking, cleaning and general ferrying around of said children? It’s a damn fine read!

I love the way that the tension in this novel is so delicately built up. There is an instant sense of tautness in the interaction between Jane and Petra, and then slowly, slowly, subtle layer by subtle layer it builds, to the point of no return. Although there is a thread of uneasiness running through the book, Welsh’s style is such that you shift the feeling of anxiety to one side, in order to follow Jane on her journey of discovery.

Contrasts are cleverly employed; buildings, relationships, characters and life-styles are seemingly at constant odds with one and other, as a mystery unfolds and Jane finds herself in the midst of an unsettling situation, which she yearns to take control of. And does she take control? I couldn’t possibly tell you that! No spoilers here.

I’ve been a busy chicken today. The glorious Claire from Beautiful Things and I ran two puppet making and storytelling workshops at Sawyers Hall College. There are a whole host of events on over the summer, all of which can be booked in via the extended services team and we were lucky enough to be a part of it.

So, what did we do exactly? Well, we started with some great storytelling sessions, followed by a bit of discussion about what the children wanted to create. As far as I’m concerned if you can’t say it, you can’t do it. I realise that this is a sweeping statement and that there people out there who do not verbalise ideas first, but my general rule of thumb is to encourage lots of open, high quality talk before asking children in particular, to write or create anything. Once the ideas started flowing, it was off to the drawing table to sketch out ideas and begin planning how the 2D design would become a 3D masterpiece.

Thank goodness for Claire! She has an amazing eye for detail and seems to be able to bring any idea to life. I tend to get covered in a fair amount of glue and fun fur, but not necessarily in a particularly creative fashion. Here’s an example of a monster puppet. His name is Max and he’s rather partial to roaring loudly at princesses and the like…but you don’t need me to tell you. If you click on this link you can hear from the creator herself.

What was so exciting about this process was the children. They had no barriers, they just went for it. The ideas kept on coming and they persevered until their puppets matched their plans. But they didn’t stop there. Once they had made the puppets, some began to draft their own stories,

This is how you encourage children to write (and read). You immerse them in stories and feed their imaginations. That’s how I teach and that’s how my own children (and pupils) grow into confident, literate individuals. I could go off on a bit of a tangent here but I won’t. I’m sure you get the gist!

If you want to see how brilliant the children’s finished production was, take a look at this video clip of one of the groups in action. I wrote the story, using the children’s amazing characters for inspiration. There was a real purpose for the children, as they got to perform for their parents and will be able to show the video to family and friends. (Thanks to Claire’s camera skills).

I am now exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time…I may go and have a little read on the corner of the sofa.

As you may well be aware local libraries run a summer reading scheme every year, which encourages children to actually pick up a book or two or three…over the long summer hols. This year is no exception, with a superbly packaged scheme named ‘Story Lab‘.

A trailer gives a brief but lively insight about the scheme, introducing this year’s theme which is broadly based upon the Olympics, with bronze, silver and gold medals to achieve along the way. It is completely free (one of my favourite words in the holidays) and a real ‘celebration of the imagination’.* Children are encouraged to read a minimum of just 6 books over the course of the break, collecting ‘medals’ and secret codes as they go. With each secret code comes a cool little animation which can be unlocked on the super-duper interactive website. What’s clever here is that the children need to go to the library for the codes, meaning that there is a secondary purpose for visiting. In an ideal world a huge range of free glorious books would be enough, but the reality is not quite so idyllic.

So let me tell you a bit about the website itself. Now, I’m no tech wizard but even I can work it, so it’s pretty user friendly. In a few simple steps the children log in, in order to create their own personal profile. There are many different strands to the site, with a place to log your reading habits, review books, blog in a child-friendly chat room and play some games too. The graphics are bright and inviting, with a great range of styles to suit a wide age range. From cartoon-like avatars to images like this:

As well as all of that there is a ‘book sorter’ where children can input simple data about themselves and, hey presto, a recommended reading list appears on the screen. I thought that this was a great idea, as it can sometimes be tricky to know what to choose, especially as children get older and have opinions of their own!

There’s a competition page too. I am usually a bit dubious about these, as they sometimes feel a bit flat, but the Stoy Lab competition is far from it. Seven amazing authors, including Julia Donaldson, Malorie Blackman and Marcus Sedgwick, have provided the Story Lab website with the beginning of a short story. The children are invited to finish the story of their choosing, with some pretty cool prizes up for grabs. Anything that encourages children to write is good as far as I’m concerned and the fact that you could end up completing the work of a favourite author is very enticing.

And that’s not all. There’s also a ‘News’ page jam packed with news, blogs and messages from authors and illustrators. Very inspiring and maybe even aspirational for some.

I shall finish with five fascinating facts about the Summer Reading Challenge:

1. 23 different countries around the world are joining in with Story Lab, thanks to the British Council.

2. Working with the RNIB, the Reading Challenge has created super size materials with extra large print, available for children who are visually impaired or children who have visually impaired parents/carers.

3. The RNIB also loans books in Braille, giant print (24 point type) and audio, for children and young people aged 5 upwards. Books are delivered by post free of charge and children can borrow six books at a time.

4. Audio books count too! As long as you’re borrowing them from the library, they all count.

5. Everybody gets a certificate.

Have you joined your family up yet? Go on, you know you want to!

*Stolen from the trailer!